Cigarette case



Aug. 9, '1927.

T. B. RICE ET A1.

CIGARETTE CASE 5, 1925 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

:1a.we.

Patented Aug. 9', 1927.

moms B. arca .um `aman fw. WILLIAMS, or entre maare, curr-enum 'i CIGARETTE CASE.

Application mea september s, 192s., semi no. 54,7152.l

This invention relates 5to an improved cigarette case andseeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character wherein, When the case is opened,- acigarette will be ejected, so that the cigarette may be 4readil grasped, while the lighter ofthe device wi l be simultaneously ignited, wherebythe ciga-v rette may be lighted.

The invention seeks, as a further object, 'to provide a device embodying a spring pressed lid, and .wherein the manual actuation of the catch to release the lid will also serve to operate a trip `for releasing one ,of

the ejectors to eject acigarette, while, also, the actuating member of the lighterk will be released bythe lid so that the lighter will be simultaneously ignited.

And the invention seeks, as a still further i object, to provide a device wherein the trip mechanism will release the ejectors one at a time so that each time the lid is opened, a single cigarette will be ejected. f

ther objects of the invention not above specifically mentioned will appear as the description proceeds.

In the `accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is `a front elevationl of ourimf proved cigarette case.

Figure 2 is a vertical through the device.

Figure 3 is a transverse ,sectional view taken through the lid ofthe device.

Figure 4 is a. transverse sectional view taken through the lower portion of the case and particularlyr showing the trip mechanism. 1

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view particular y showing one of the ejector catches and-illustrating the manner in which the trip varms of thetrip shaft are adapted to engage said catches for ,releasing the catches.

yFigure 6 is a ydetail sectional-vie'wshowing the staggered relation of the' arms on said shaft.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view particularly showing the yactuating latches of the trip mechanism.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the case ,on the line 8-8 of yFigure 3, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows, and particularly showing the lighter.

In carrying the'invention intoeffect, we employ aflat oblong easing 10 which is normally closed at its upper end by a lidV 11 sectional view fingers, in turn,

suitably hinged to within thecasing is apluralit y of vertically dis osed tubular cigarette hol ers 12.. These ho dersare suitably fixed at their upper ends to a top plate 13l which is Aappropriately secured within the upper endof the casin and, asl brought out 1n Fi ures 2 and 3, sai

plate terminates'short'of one side wall of the casing to define a lighter compartment 14-open `atvits upperend. The holders 12 are arranged in parallel rows, and disposed within the lower yends ofysaid holders are ejector springs 15 to the upper'ends of which are secured ejector plates 16loosely fitting in the holders. Formed in the holders,near the lower" ends thereof, as shown in Figure 5, are slots 17, and fixed to the holders below said slots are spring catch members- 18, the laterally bent heads of which project freely through said slots to normally engage over the plates .16 `for holding said; latesfdepressed. Thel free ends of said eads vare directed outwardly through said slots to provide sprin .fingers 19 and, as will, be lobserved, saiv fingers are downturned at their outerends to form lips 20. y, vThe holders are each of" a diameter"` to freely receive afcigaillustrated at'21, and by pushing the cigarettes downwardly within the holders, the plates 16 may be depressed to .engage beneath the catch members 18. Thus,the cigarettes are normally supported by said plates to project at their upper ends slightlyabove the upper ends of, the. holders, and fixed within the. holders are stop ringsy 22 for limiting theplates 16 in their upward movement when released by the catch members.

. Extending horizontally betweenvthe rows of holders 12 near the lower ends .thereof is a rotatable Shaft 23, and fixed t0 said shaft, at longitudinally spaced points, to coo erate with the fingers 19 of the catch mem ers 18, are radial arms 24. The` arms 24" are uniformly staggered circumferentiall of the shaft to successively cooperate wit the and fixed to one .end of said shaft, as particularly shown in Figure 2, is a beveled gear25.v Extendinof vertically of the casing at `the adjacent sidey thereof is a shaft 26, and fixed to the lower end of said shaft is a beveled gear 27 meshingwith the'gear 25, while to the upper end of s aid shaft is fixed a beveled gear 28. Extending 'the casing, and mounted rette, the cigarettes being conventionallyv and fixed to one end of said shaft is a beveled-gear 30 'meshing with the gear 28. Fixed to the shaft 29 medially thereof, as shownin detailin Figure 7 is a ratchetl 31, the teeth of which correspond in number and spacing with the number and spacino of the arms 24 of the shaft 23, and fixed to the plate 13 to cooperate with said ratchet is a spring pawl 32 for locking the ratchet against retrograde' movement. Slidable through the front wall of the casing 10 oppositel the ratchet 31 is a hollow cylindrical plunger 33 provided at its inner end with a flange 34 for-limiting the plunger against outward displacement,`and bearing against said/flange is' a spring 35 normally holding the plunger retracted. At its upper side the plunger is provided with a notch 36 to accommodate the forward lower margin of the lid 11, and projecting into said notch freely through an opening insaid margin of the lid is a catch 37 normally securing the lid closed. Fixed at one end to the flange 34 of the plunger is a spring pawl 38, the opposite end of which is disposed to coopcrate with the teeth of the ratchet 31.

As will now be seen inview of the foregoing, when the plunger 33 is depressed, the

lid 11 will be released while the ratchet 31 will be turned a ste by the pawl 38. The shaft 23 will, there ore, be correspondingly rotated so that one of the'arms 24 of said shaft will be advanced against the lip 2O of the finger 19 offene ofthe catch members 18, as shown in Figure 5, for retracting said catch member and releasing one of the ejector plates'16. The travel of the arm of the shaft 23 will be-suiiicient to flex the finger ofthe catch member and lcause the arm ofsaid shaft to ride out of engagement with the lip of said finger for freeing the catch member. However, immediately upon the release of the'ejector plate-16, said plate will be shifted upwardly by its spring 15, for ejecting one of the cigarettes 21 upwardly within its holder so that said cigarette may -be readily grasped. Thus, each time the shaft 23 1s actuated, one of the ejectors will'be released for ejecting a` cigarette and, of course, as each of the arms 24 of the shaft 23`moves out of engagement with ythefinger 19 of one ofthe catch inembers, the next'succes'sive: arm of the shaft will be broughtv into position for engagement withthe lip 20 of theiinger ofthe next suc- 'cessive catch memberso that when the last ci arette is ejected and the holders are refil ed, a cigarette will, when the catch 133 is next actuated, `be ejected from the holder firstI emptied.

Suitably mounted within theA compartment 14 of the casing 10 is a fuel receptacle 38 from which-projects a wick 39, and fixed to the side wall ofthe receptacle is atu'bular ,casing`40 'slidablyfaccommodating a pyrophoric stick 41 beneathy which is disposed a spring 42. Projecting from the back wall of the casing Within the upper portion of said compartment are spaced arms 43 jour` naling a shaft 44, and fixed to the shaft between said arms is a friction disc 45 engaged by the sticlr'41. The shaft. 44 also carries a ratchet 46a Projecting from the back wall of the casing within the lower portion of the compartment-14 are vertically spaced guides 47, and slidable through said guides is a plunger. rod 48 pressed upwardly Yby a spring 49. 'Formed on or otherwise secured to' the lid Vl1 to. normally bear against the upper endof said rod is an arm 50 and projecting from the upper end portion of the rod is an larm 51 to which:l is pivoted a rack bar 52 urged by al spring 53 to coopcrate with the ratchet 46. f

As will now be perceived, wlienthe plung-` er 33 is depressed and one of the ejectors is released to eject a cigarette, as previously described, the r'od'43 will, upon the release of the lid 11 by the'catch 37, be shifted .upwardly by the spring 49for swinging the lid to open position. Coincidently. lthe rack bar 52 will coact with the ratchet 46 for turning the friction disc-45 so that said disc will be caused to cooperate with the pyrophoric stick 41 for lighting a flame at the upper end of the wick 39. Thus, the cigarette ejected may be readily lighted.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is: t

1. A cigarette case including. a casing having a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for cjecting the cigarettes, separate catch vmembers normally securingksaid ejectors` retracted, and means to coact with said catch members suclOl) cessively for successively releasing said ejectors. f l

2. A cigarette case including a casing having a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable'in said holders for ejecting the cigarettes, separate Vcatch members normally securing said ejectors retracted, means to coact with said catch members successively for successively releasing said ejectors, a spring actuated lid normally closing the casing, and means for releasing the lid and actuating said first mentioned means.

3. A cigarette case including a casing hav- 'ing a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for ejecting the cigarettes, separate catch members nor- A mally securing said ejectors retracted,means to coa'c't With said catch members successively for successively releasing said ejector-s` a lid vnormally closing-the casing, a lighter, igniting means for the lighter, spring pressed ,i

'actuating means for said ignitmg means and normally tending to open the lid, and means for releasing the lid and actuating said rst mentioned means whereby the lighter Will be ignated when the lid is opened and a cigarette is ejected.

4. A cigarette case including a casing having a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for ejecting the cigarettes, separate catch members normally holding said ejectors retracted and provided with fingers, and means to coact with said fingers for retracting said catch members successively and successively releasing said ejectors.

5. A cigarette case including a casinghaving a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for ejecting the cigarettes, separate catch members normally securing said ejectors retracted and provided with fingers, a rotatable shaft having arms staggered to coact with said fingers successively for retracting the catch inembers and successively releasing said ejectors, and mean for rotating said shaft step by ste d.) A cigarette case including a casing having a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for ejecting the cirgarettes, separatecatch members normally securing said ejectors retracted and provided with fingers', a rotatable shaft having arms staggered to coact with said fingers successively for retracting the catch members and successively releasing said ejecvtors. a spring actuated lid for the casing, and

ing a plurality of tubular holders therein to receive cigarettes, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in sald holders for ejecting the cigarettes, separate catch members normally securing said ejectors retracted and provided with fingers, a rotatable shaft having arms staggered to coact with said fingers successively for retracting the catch members and successively releasing said ejectors, a second shaft having driving connection with said first mentioned shaft and provided With a ratchet, a spring actuated lid for the casing, and a plunger having a catch normally securing the lid .closed and provided with a pawl to coact with said ratchet, the plunger being movable for releasing the lid and actuating said ratchet for turning said first mentioned shaft step by step.

8. A device of the character described including a casing having a plurality of article holders therein, spring pressed ejectors freely movable in said holders for ejecting articles from, the holders, separate means normally securing said ejectors retracted, and means rotatable to coact with said first mentioned means successively for successively releasing said ejectors.

9. A device of the character decribed including a casing having a plurality of art-icle holders therein, spring pressed eiectori freely movable in said holders for eiecting articles therefrom, means normally securing said ejectors retracted, means rotatable to coact with said first mentioned means successively for successively releasing said ejector, a spring actuated lid normally closing the casing, and means for releasing the lid and actuating said second mentioned means.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

THOMAS B. RICE. [L 8.] FRED W. WILLIAMS. [1.. s.] 

